Max Chilton is most famous for being Marussia's driver for 2013 and 2014, or for perhaps being the brother of touring car ace Tom Chilton. Either way, the Chiltons typically bring a boatload of money thanks to daddy Grahame Chilton.

Chilton's previous record wasn't as bad as his "pay driver" label would have you think, complete with a 4th place finish in GP2 back in 2012. He's not exactly the Taki Inoue of our day. Are there better F1 rejects out there? Sure.

That being said, I do wonder what Chilton can do in a good, competitive car. Chilton wasn't great in the backmarker Marussia, with teammate Jules Bianchi (not Chilton) scoring the team's only points. The Team Formerly Known As Marussia has moved on without Chilton, naming Will Stevens as their first driver. Still, you can't ignore those couple GP2 wins from a series where young racers are beyond thirsty for that sweet, sweet podium.

Everyone's hoping this Nissan will be a good, competitive car at the moment. Its front-wheel-drive-biased layout is just the kind of radical technical shake-up we've been longing for in the LMP1 class.

Advertisement

Chilton wasn't afraid to throw a little shade on F1 on the way out.

"My aim has always been to race at the highest level and the technology that has gone into the Nissan GT-R LM NISMO is as impressive as a Formula 1 car," he told AUTOSPORT. "I'm honored to have been asked to join a manufacturer as prestigious as Nissan in a championship that is growing year on year."

Buncombe joins the Nissan LMP1 team on the Le Mans-only third car, sharing driver duties with Tsugio Matsuda and Lucas Ordonez.

"I was shocked when I got the call and I haven't been able to wipe the grin off my face ever since," Buncombe told AUTOSPORT.

Advertisement

Buncombe hasn't only driven GT3 and GT4 cars for Nissan, but he's driven their V8 Supercar as well. That's right: an ex-V8 Supercar driver in an LMP1. (He only drove four races over there, but it still counts!)

Furthermore, he makes sense given the GT Academy driver in the car. Buncombe has been working with GT Academy grads to help them develop their skills.

Advertisement

There could be a seat to fill in the near future, however: AUTOSPORT confirmed that Michael Krumm will only contest the first three races before concentrating on Super GT in Japan.

Welcome to the craziest party in motorsports, Buncombe and Chilton. Party hats are past that tree and to the right.